A comprehensive government study completed in September 2023 sat unreleased for over a year after finding no significant climate impact from increased U.S. liquefied natural gas exports.
According to Fox News, the Biden administration delayed sharing these findings with Congress while moving forward with new export restrictions.
The Energy Department's draft report, titled "Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports," concluded that expanded LNG exports neither affected greenhouse gas emissions significantly nor caused substantial consumer price increases, contradicting the administration's later public statements.
Senior Trump administration officials have revealed that the Department of Energy repeatedly declined requests from the House Oversight Committee to share the study's findings throughout early 2024. The committee only received access to the report on Wednesday morning, following months of formal requests for information about LNG export impacts.
The timing of the report's suppression coincided with mounting pressure from progressive Democrats who opposed the record-high LNG export levels achieved under Biden's presidency. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm faced particular scrutiny for public statements about environmental and economic impacts that appeared to contradict the study's conclusions.
The study's findings gained additional significance when Biden announced a pause on new LNG export terminal approvals in January 2024, citing environmental and economic concerns that the buried report had already examined and largely dismissed.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer offered sharp criticism of the administration's handling of the report:
Biden Administration officials, who religiously claimed to 'follow the science,' abandoned it to undermine American-made energy production, appease climate activists, and achieve their predetermined outcomes
The committee's investigation into the delayed release began after a September 2024 court filing from Government Accountability and Oversight revealed the Energy Department had conducted the LNG study in 2023. This disclosure prompted increased congressional scrutiny of the administration's decision-making process.
The suppressed findings came during a critical period for European energy security, as U.S. LNG exports played an increasingly vital role in supplying European Union nations. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent reduction of pipeline gas supplies, American exports rose to provide more than 50% of Europe's LNG needs.
Progressive Democrats, led by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, intensified their opposition to expanded exports despite these geopolitical considerations. Their pressure campaign appeared to influence the administration's decision to withhold the study's results that showed minimal environmental impact.
The administration's December 2024 release of different data suggesting potential 30% consumer price increases due to exports drew criticism from industry groups and Republicans who questioned the analysis's validity and timing after the presidential election.
The Biden administration chose to withhold a Department of Energy study that found minimal climate and economic impacts from increased U.S. LNG exports. This decision preceded their January 2024 pause on new export terminal approvals, which cited environmental and economic concerns.
The revelation of this suppressed report has intensified congressional oversight and industry criticism of the administration's energy policies. The House Oversight Committee continues to investigate the decision-making process behind both the study's withholding and subsequent export restrictions.
